An in-depth look at the Clinton LumberKings from radio broadcaster Dave Lezotte. The LumberKings are the class A Midwest League Affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.

Results tagged ‘ Mickey Wiswall ’

It was a Sunday for celebration for your LumberKings as they defeated Beloit 5-2 yesterday, extending their winning streak to eight-straight games and clinching a second-half playoff spot. Mike McGee singled home a run in the first inning (listen:McGee RBI single 8.28.11) and Stefen Romero added a sacrifice fly to put the Kings ahead 2-0, but the Snappers came back to tie the game against right-hander Stephen Kohlscheen on a solo home run by Lance Ray and RBI single by Nate Roberts.

The game stayed tied 2-2 until the seventh, when the Kings scored three runs with just one hit off the combination of Snappers’ right-handers Manuel Soliman and Adrian Salcedo. Mickey Wiswall reached first on an error by Ray in left and took second as Kalian Sams walked. Kevin Rivers bunted both over into scoring position, setting up the winning play. Anthony Phillips sent a chopper to Jairo Perez at third base and Perez threw home on Wiswall, but catcher Tobias Streich put a high tag down after Wiswall’s foot had crossed the plate. Carlos Ramirez added a safety squeeze bunt to score Sams and Julio Morban lined the only hit of the inning to score Phillips (listen:Morban RBI single 8.28.11).

Right-hander Matt Bischoff won for the fourth time in relief with 3.0 scoreless innings after Kohlscheen’s exit. Right-hander John Taylor finished off the game with his first Midwest League save, striking out Roberts on a 3-2 pitch (listen:Taylor First Save, Playoffs Clinched 8.28.11).

Weighing in on yesterday’s clincher is McGee, a pivotal contributor to the most-recent two wins. The Kings’ center-fielder talks about his home run to beat the Snappers on Saturday, the importance of scoring runs early during this tremendous two-week run, the team’s focus for the final eight regular-season games, the new-found confidence of the offense and more.

As McGee indicated, there’s still work to be done in these final eight games. The LumberKings lead Kane County by 4.0 games for the West Division’s top playoff spot and have a magic number of five to edge the Cougars. Left-hander Anthony Fernandez (7-3, 2.86) gets the start in game three of this four-game set against Beloit tonight, while the Snappers counter with right-hander A.J. Achter (4-7, 4.63). First pitch on “Ashford University and Clinton Community College Back to College Night” is scheduled for 6:30 PM. Listen online at 1390kcln.com.

The LumberKings won the series and kept a 4.0-game Wild Card lead on Beloit in-tact with a 5-2 victory over the Quad Cities River Bandits last night. Kalian Sams went 2-for-4 with a double (listen:Sams RBI double 8.19.11) and a solo home run (listen:Sams Solo HR (#15) 8.19.11), but it was Anthony Phillips’ two-out infield single scoring Mickey Wiswall in the fourth inning that stood as the winning run (listen:Phillips RBI infield single 8.19.11). Left-hander Anthony Fernandez had a short 5.0-inning outing by his usual standards, but struck out a career-high 10 batters in that time and allowed just two runs to the Bandits (listen:Fernandez Career-High 10th K, 8.19.11). Relievers Jessie Nava, Ryan Kiel and Jonathan Arias combined on 4.0 scoreless innings in relief of Fernandez, with Arias picking up his eighth save.

With another great outing by Fernandez, more lock-down relief from Kiel and Arias and a host of new arms to talk about, it’s time to catch up with LumberKings’ pitching coach Rich Dorman for tonight’s interview. He gives plenty of insight on Fernandez, right-hander Stephen Kohlscheen, Mariners’ third-round right-hander Carter Capps, tonight’s starter Roenis Elias, Arias and his dominant second half and more.

Mariners’ second-round pick, Brad Miller makes his professional debut tonight at shortstop, batting seventh. Elias (2-0, 2.89) makes his fourth start for the Kings as he goes up against Kane County right-hander Leondy Perez (6-11, 3.35). The game begins at 6:00 PM, listen online at 1390kcln.com.

Prior to yesterday’s off-day, the LumberKings completed a three-game sweep of the Peoria Chiefs at O’Brien Field, posting a three-run eighth and winning 9-5. Mickey Wiswall led the way with a 2-for-4 game including a two-run homer (listen:Wiswall 2-R HR (#10) 8.15.11) and game-winning RBI double (listen:Wiswall go-ahead RBI double, 50th RBI 8.15.11), driving in three. Carlos Ramirez fell a triple shy of the cycle in a 3-for-5 game that included his second home run as well. Right-hander Carter Capps worked four scoreless innings to start his pro debut but then was touched for three runs over his final 0.2 innings in a no-decision. Right-hander Jessie Nava twice gave up tying runs, but also left the bases loaded with a huge strikeout of Arismendy Alcantara (listen:Nava Leaves them Loaded 8.15.11 ). Nava improved to 2-4 with the win in relief and lefty Ryan Kiel locked down his first save with two scoreless innings.

Wiswall joins me for the first time since early June for tonight’s pregame interview. We talk about his game-winning performance on Monday, his growth as both a hitter and a first-baseman in his first full year in the Mariners’ system, the offense beginning to turn a corner, being part of playoff runs both last year and this year, his goals for the remainder of the season and more.

With the regular-season’s final off-day behind us, the LumberKings begin a challenging seven-game homestand against Quad Cities and Kane County, the top two teams in the West Division. The Kings trail Kane County by 3.0 games for the top playoff spot, yet still lead Beloit by 4.0 games for the Wild Card. Left-hander Tony Butler (1-3, 3.43) faces Quad Cities for the first time since June 5, 2007 when they were still known as the Swing. Meanwhile, the offense will attempt to stay hot against River Bandits’ right-hander Trevor Rosenthal (6-7, 3.61). Game time is 6:30 PM, listen online at 1390kcln.com.

-DL

Follow me on Twitter at @davelezotte and the LumberKings at @LumberKings.

For the fourth time this season, LumberKings’ right-hander Taijuan Walker started a game that would end in a shutout victory. For the third time amongst those four starts, he faced the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Walker improved to 3-0, 0.00 (0 ER in 16.o IP) against Clinton’s rivals to the West with 5.0 scoreless, f0ur-hit innings last night to lead the Kings to a 2-0 win. Three of those four hits occurred in the first inning, but Walker picked Travis Witherspoon off of first base and induced an inning-ending double play from Jeremy Cruz. A two-out RBI single by Mickey Wiswall in the third inning and solo home run by Anthony Phillips in the fourth inning (listen:Phillips Solo HR (#4) 8.10.11) provided the offense. Left-hander Ryan Kiel retired all nine batters he faced over 3.0 scoreless innings and right-hander Tyler Burgoon picked up save #12 with a perfect ninth inning.

August is usually time for me to get through the bullpen in regards to interviews, and tonight’s outing for Kiel provides perfect timing to catch up with him. Seattle’s 37th round pick in 2010 out of Marshall University, Kiel has lowered his ERA from 4.63 to 3.24 over his last two outings totaling 5.0 scoreless innings. The Los Gatos, CA native talks about his role as the bullpen’s lone lefty, his fastball/slider/change arsenal, his time with the Thundering Herd, his 2010 debut in Pulaski and more on tonight’s pregame interview.

Game two with the Kernels is tonight at 7:00 PM. Left-hander Tony Butler (1-2, 3.26) gets the start tonight looking to right the ship after his last outing (loss at Burlington, 5 ER in 5.0 IP). He’ll be opposed by right-hander A.J. Schugel of the Kernels (3-3, 2.77). Listen to the broadcast online at 1390kcln.com.

-DL

Follow me on Twitter at @davelezotte and the LumberKings at @LumberKings.

The LumberKings improved to 4-3 on this eight-game road trip last night with a 5-2 win in Burlington. Left-hander Anthony Fernandez pitched his fourth-straight quality start (2 R, 1 ER over 6.0 IP) and a solo homer by Stefen Romero (listen:Romero Solo HR (#15), 13 game hit streak 8.8.11) and two-out RBI single by Kalian Sams had the Kings tied with the Bees, 2-2 entering the seventh. Right-hander Matt Bischoff came on for the top of the seventh and was immediately greeted by Nino Leyja’s line double into the left-field corner. A passed ball later and Leyja stood at third base with nobody out.

Somehow, Bischoff got out of it unscathed. He battled back to strike out Tyreace House and induced a chopper from Beau Taylor that reached drawn-in third-baseman Carlos Ramirez. Ramirez started and finished one of the crazier plays on the basepaths this season, beginning a 5-2-6-2-5-1-5 rundown to get Leyja and then firing back to second-baseman Romero to catch Taylor over-rounding the bag. The ripple effect of that momentum swing was a three-run eighth inning put together by the Kings to snap the 2-2 tie. Mickey Wiswall’s liner to right-center scored Mike McGee for the winning run (listen:Wiswall RBI single 8.8.11), while Tim Morris and Sams added insurance RBI. Bischoff secured his third win in relief by tossing 3.0 innings, striking out two (listen: Bischoff Strikes Out Kirkland 8.8.11).

Today, I talk with Bischoff for the first time on the pregame interview. The Decatur, Indiana native has already been well-traveled in the year since his 20th round selection out of the University of Purdue. He started his pro career in Pulaski last season, but jumped to Clinton just in time to make a playoff debut for the Kings. He turned in a memorable game three performance in the opening round at Cedar Rapids, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings and striking out four in relief of Erasmo Ramirez in Clinton’s series-clinching 6-2 win over the Kernels. Bischoff endured a rocky start with the LumberKings this year and a minor arm injury, battling back to go 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and five saves in Everett before making his return to the Midwest League. In his last seven outings, the 5’11” hurler is 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA.

Bischoff talks about the wild seventh inning, coming back strong from the injury, playing baseball at New Haven High School for his father (legendary head coach Dave Bischoff, who reached 500 wins this past season as he guided the Bulldogs to the 3A Semi-State finals), his Big Ten rivalry with Tyler Burgoon (who pitched at Michigan), his “into the fire” playoff debut last year and more.

The road trip comes to a close tonight in Burlington, and it’s left-hander Roenis Elias on the hill for the LumberKings looking to secure a series win. We’ll see if the Cuban defector Elias can duplicate his debut outing, a 6.1-inning, one-run (unearned) effort at Wisconsin last Thursday. He’ll be opposed by Bees’ right-hander Jose Macias (4-3, 5.01). First pitch is at 6:30 PM, listen to the broadcast on 1390kcln.com.

-DL

Follow me on Twitter at @davelezotte and the LumberKings at @LumberKings.

It’s officially a three-game winning streak for your LumberKings after an 8-4 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers last night at Alliant Energy Field. The Kings erased a 3-0 deficit on an RBI double by Mickey Wiswall, two-run single by Julio Morban (who also helped out with an outfield assist, listen:Morban To Tanabe Play at Plate 7.28.11) and RBI groundout by Kevin Rivers. Wisconsin tied the score at 4-4 against right-hander Matt Bischoff in the top of the seventh, but Clinton rallied for four runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Rivers singled home Mike McGee (listen:Rivers Go-Ahead RBI single 7.28.11), Stefen Romero added a two-run double (listen: Romero 2-R double 7.28.11) and Kalian Sams finished the job with an RBI single. Bischoff (W, 2-2) ended up with the win despite a blown save, while right-handers Tyler Blandford and Tyler Burgoon closed things down in the eighth and ninth.

While there’s many suitable interview subjects from your LumberKings based on last night’s win, tonight’s interview is all about our Prostate Cancer Awareness night, taking place tonight. Ed Randall, the founder of “Bat for the Cure”, joins me on tonight’s pregame interview via phone. The host of Ed Randall’s Talking Baseball on Sirius/XM Radio’s MLB Home Plate channel, Randall talks about the importance of early detection in the fight against prostate cancer, his own personal experience with the disease, the 2011 Minor League Road Trip for “Bat for the Cure” and more.

The LumberKings look for their first sweep since late May/early June at Fort Wayne tonight as they close the series with Wisconsin. Left-hander Anthony Fernandez (3-3, 3.45) is 2-1 with a 2.40 ERA in his last seven games, he’ll start for Clinton tonight against Rattlers’ right-hander Brooks Hall (5-3, 4.19). Listen to the 7 PM game on 1390kcln.com.

Right-hander Taijuan Walker’s nine-inning complete game effort might have stolen the show last night, but the LumberKings also put together their third six-run inning (tying a season-high for most runs in one frame) in the last week, scoring six times in the third inning to beat Great Lakes, 6-2. Mike McGee doubled home a run, Mickey Wiswall added an RBI double (listen:Wiswall RBI double 7.13.11) and Stefen Romero launched a two-run homer (listen:Romero 2-R HR (#9) 7.13.11), but it was Matt Browning’s clutch two-run single to center (listen:Browning 2-R single 7.13.11) that actually produced the tying and game-winning runs.

And so, it’s time to chat with Browning for the first time. Seattle’s 43rd round pick out of James Madison University enjoyed success in Pulaski last season (.330, 4 HR, 24 RBI in 34 games) and is making an impact both defensively and offensively as Clinton’s third baseman in 2011. Browning is 3-for-8 with three RBI over his last two games, just over 10 days removed from being struck in the helmet by a pitch from Quad Cities’ right-hander Trevor Rosenthal. He talks about last night’s performance, coming back quickly from the injury, his time at James Madison University, his hot start in Pulaski last season and more.

Left-hander Tony Butler, a career 0-0 with a 1.80 ERA in two starts against the Loons (both with Wisconsin in 2007), makes his third start for the LumberKings in game two tonight…he’s 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA over the first two outings. First pitch is at 7:00 PM, listen online at 1390kcln.com.

The LumberKings lost 5-0 to Beloit yesterday afternoon despite 2-for-4 efforts from both Mickey Wiswall and Stefen Romero and a near-quality outing from right-hander George Mieses (6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 K). The Snappers scored four of their five runs in one quick burst in the fourth against Mieses, and the Kings couldn’t touch right-hander Manuel Soliman over 7.0 innings. As a result, both teams are now tied for second in the West with 10-7 records heading into tonight’s rubber match.

Also found in today’s notes, a brief recap of former LumberKings LHP James Paxton’s performance in yesterday’s Futures Game. Chances are you’ve seen this already, but K-Pax retired the U.S. side in order in the third inning, including getting Washington’s Bryce Harper to ground out to first . Unfortunately, he’s still going back to double-A Jackson, so I won’t be able to do the Futures follow-up interview as I had hoped.

Lefty Anthony Fernandez is 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA over his last four starts for the LumberKings, he’ll look for his third win in the finale of this three-game series in Beloit. First pitch is at 7:00 PM here at Pohlman Field, listen to the game on 1390kcln.com.

Happy Independence Day! The LumberKings freed themselves from a 2-2 tie in the top of the 10th last night in Peoria as Mike McGee ripped a one-out double into the left-field corner, moved to third on a single by Carlos Ramirez and scored on a sacrifice fly by Mickey Wiswall. Right-hander Jonathan Arias struck out six over the last 3.0 innings including two in the bottom of the 10th, securing his third win and giving the Kings a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the Chiefs.

The “Cardiac Kings” have won five of their six games this second half in the last at-bat, with Wiswall now providing the game-winning RBI in the last two of them. Wiswall also drove in Kevin Rivers for the deciding run in Clinton’s 5-3 win at Quad Cities on Friday night.

In addition to the big nights for McGee (2-for-5, five-game hitting streak), Wiswall (1-for-4, 7-game hitting streak) and Arias (3-0, 2.16 ERA since May), the LumberKings also received a solid start from a familiar name to Mariners’ fans. Left-hander Tony Butler, making his first Midwest League start since August 31, 2007, turned in 5.1 innings of two-run, four-hit baseball in a no-decision. Despite walking five, Butler fanned three (listen:Butler Strikes Out Rohan 7.3.11) and did not allow an extra-base hit.

Seattle’s third-round pick in 2006 out of Oak Creek High School (WI), Butler has taken quite a journey already through six seasons in Minor League Baseball. As you’ve likely already read, he went from a top prospect in the Mariners’ system (#4 rated by Baseball America back in 2007) to injury-plagued in Baltimore following the Erik Bedard trade, then was released by the O’s, signed by Milwaukee and released again. This past Super Bowl Sunday, Butler made the decision to stick with his dream of playing professional baseball, moved to Arizona, worked out to get back into baseball shape and secured a tryout with the Mariners. Now at age 23, he’s using the lessons learned from the ups and downs to make his way back.

Butler talks about his return to the organization that drafted him, last night’s start against the Chiefs, pitching in short-A Everett for the first time since ’06, comparisons to right-hander Tom Wilhelmsen’s 2010 comeback and plenty more. It’s an all-OCHS interview that will likely make my old TV teacher Mr. Stock smile.

An excerpt from tonight’s notes to keep in mind on this Independence Day:

The LumberKings are 4-0 on July 4th dating back to 2007, including 3-0 on the road. Clinton erased a 3-1 deficit with a four-run ninth inning last year at O’Brien Field in Peoria as Mario Martinez laced a bases-loaded two-run double off Chiefs’ reliever Frank Batista and Brandon Bantz (sac fly) and Daniel Carroll (RBI single) added runs against Yohan Gonzalez…right-hander Daniel Cooper (W, 3-2) got the win and closer Brandon Josselyn (S, 10) the save. In 2009, the Kings hosted Kane County at Alliant Energy Field and won 5-0 behind 6.0 scoreless, three-hit innings from right-hander Aaron Pribanic (W, 7-4)…Blake Ochoa had a three-run double, finishing 1-for-4. Clinton won in 2008 at Beloit behind 7.0 scoreless, three-hit innings from right-hander Blake Beavan (W, 5-5) and RBI from Mitch Moreland (2-for-3, RBI #49) and Miguel Alfonzo (solo HR, his third of the season). The 2007 season started the trend as right-hander Kasey Kiker (W, 3-2) handcuffed the Swing of the Quad Cities with 6.0 scoreless, three-hit innings and seven strikeouts. Craig Gentry powered the road win, going 2-for-4 with a solo HR (his third of the season). Chad Tracy, Marcus Lemon and Mauro Gomez each had an RBI.

Can right-hander Jandy Sena (4-4, 4.75) bounce back from his 10-run (6 ER) outing against Beloit and secure a fifth-straight July 4th victory for the Kings? We’ll find out tonight starting with the first pitch at 6:00 PM, listen to the broadcast on 1390kcln.com.

The LumberKings are 2-0 in the “show-and-go” after last night’s 5-3 win over the Quad Cities River Bandits at Modern Woodmen Park. Clinton took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-out double by Tim Morris (listen:Morris 2-R double 7.1.11) and raised the lead back to two in the sixth on a two-out RBI single by Carlton Tanabe. Left-hander Anthony Fernandez dealt over 7.0 innings, limiting the Bandits to a run on four hits and turning in a highlight-reel-worthy 1-6-3 double play on a line drive back to the mound in the sixth inning (listen:Fernandez 1-6-3 DP 7.1.11). The 3-1 lead wouldn’t last in the eighth as right-hander Keli’i Zablan loaded the bases and yielded a run on a wild pitch, but right-hander Tyler Burgoon gave up just one run in a bases-loaded no-out situation, keeping the game tied at 3-3. In the ninth, the Kings went right back ahead as Kevin Rivers was hit by a pitch and scored on a Mickey Wiswall single to center (listen:Wiswall Go-Ahead RBI single 7.1.11). Stefen Romero executed a safety squeeze bunt scoring Matt Browning in the ninth as well, and Burgoon worked a perfect bottom of the ninth to improve to 5-3.

With the outstanding outing from Fernandez, a seven-game losing streak snapped by George Mieses, the double-A promotion of James Paxton, the addition of left-hander Tony Butler and the three-win run by Burgoon, it’s high time to catch up with pitching coach Rich Dorman again. Dor talks about those pitchers plus tonight’s starter Taijuan Walker on tonight’s pregame interview.

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